Saturday, February 04, 2012

Govanhill Baths - Launch of Phase 1

Saturday 4 Feb sees the official opening of the Govanhill Baths Wellbeing Centre with actor Peter Mullen and MSP Nicola Sturgeon doing the honours. Its a great first step of the community to get back into the baths and start making it a central location to bring everyone together. Great work by all the volunteers who have worked so hard over the last few years to pull it together.

Here's some info:

"The Govanhill community’s return to the baths is the result of 11 years of hard work and commitment by so many people in Govanhill, the Trust and the Friends of Govanhill Baths. The refurbishment of the front suite has been made possible by funding and support from; the government's Equally Well Community Health Pilot Project and the Govanhill Community Action (GoCA) group, a licence from the Council and City Property to occupy the front suite (with a view to the Trust taking over ownership in due course) and various funding over the years from the Big Lottery, the Architectural Heritage Fund, Scottish Community Action, Santander Bank and the GCC Area Committee. . Historic Scotland has recently provisionally agreed a refurbishment grant for the whole building of £0.98M and there have been many substantial donations from individuals and our members.. Our sponsors NORD Architecture have been major supporters and donators in kind for 8 years.

The new Centre’s Phase 1A will initially house the HQ of the Trust and its Centre for Community Practice (CCP). The CCP will provide a series of community-based programmes involving healthy eating (Govanhill Grub), Create (Arts programmes) and dedicated learning and recreation programmes for youth and 55+. It is planning an education unit to support local language and learning needs. The facilities will provide excellent and much needed space for local community groups to use for a wide range of activities. It is proposed that Phase 1B will include the reinstatement of the learner’s pool, the “ladies” pool, Sauna and Turkish Suite and will include an arts suite, a greenhouse garden and a café. Phase 2 will redevelop the old “Steamie” into and event and market hall and Phase 3 will re-open the main swimming pool."